Separable fastener



July 7, 1931. Q e. suNDBAcK SEPARABLE FASTENER Original Filed March 16.1927 VENTOR.

BY v AT TURNEY 1 Patented Jilly 7, 1931 UNITED STATES} PATENT OFFICEGIDEON SUNDBACK, OF MEADVILIQE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T HOOKLESSFASTENER COMPANY, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN-SYLVANLA SEPARABLE FASTENER Original application filed March 16', 1927,Serial No. 175,664. Divided and this application filed January 16,

This invention relates to separable interlocking fasteners and has forits object to provide improved means for separating fastener stringersat both ends, and for facilitating reengagement with the interlockingmembers in their proper relativc'positions.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 175,664, filedMarch 16, 1927.

According to this invention the fastener stringers are provided adjacenttheir lower ends with cooperating members which can be instantlyseparated without unhooking or other special manipulation, permittingthe stringers to be completely separated, and when brought togetherserve to start the interlocking members on the stringers into engagementin the proper sequence. The member on one stringer is provided with asheath or socket which receives the lower edge of the other stringer.thereby connecting the stringers together and preventing separationunder transverse strain. This member also acts as a stop for the sliderand serves to maintain the slider and socket in the proper posit-ionstoereceive the detached stringer when the parts are to be connectedtogether after separation. The cooperating member on the second ordetachable stringer is formed so that it can be drawn through theslider, and is provided with an obstructing portion which interfereswith the interlocking members on the opposed stringer and prevents thefastener from being closed except when the parts are brought together inthe proper starting position. The lower portion of this detachablestringer is preferably treated with stiffening material to facilitatethreading through the slider and the socket of the opposed connectingmem- 0 ber.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which similar reference ch acters designate correspondingparts in the several views,

Land in which:

Serial No. 247,044.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a separable fastener embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the stringers in a relativeposition incapable of being closed;

Fig. 3 is an isometric'view showing the connecting member of one of thestringers; and

Fig. 4 is an isometric view showing the cooperating member of theopposite stringer.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View on line 55 of Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1 and 2, flexible stringers 1 and 2 are provided with the usualcorded edges carrying interlocking members 3 arranged in staggeredrelation. The slider 4 having diverging channels is movable up and downalong the stringers by means of any suitable pull member (not shown) toengage or disengage the opposed interlockii'ig members.

Cooperating members 5 and (l are mounted at the lower ends of thestringers 1 and 2 respectively, adjacent the lowermost interlockingmen'ibers .thereof. The connecting member .6, shown in detail in Fig. 3,comprises spaced pairs of clamping jaws 7 for clamping the corded edgeof the stringer 2, side plates v8 intermediate the pairs of clampingjaws and having inturned edges 8 and forming a socket or sheath with anopening in the outer edge parallel to the edge of the stringer i forreceiving the corded edge of the stringer 1. and a portion 9 the purposeof which is hereinafter described. The member 5 shown in detail in Fig.4 comprises clamping jaws 10 for clamping the corded edge of thestringer 1, and a thickened portion 11, the purpose of which ishereinafter described.

When the slider 4 is moved upwardly to close the fastener the member 5rests on the edges of the side plates 8 as seen in Fig. 5.

WVith the members 5 and 6 in the position arranged in the propervertical position to insure the engagement of the opposed interlockingmembers 3 :in the proper order. Furthermore, when the fastener is closedthe socket formed by the side plates 8 and edges 8 of the member 6partially surround the corded edge of the stringer 1 thereby preventingthe fastener from being opened at the bottom when a transverse strain isapplied to the fastener. The thickened edge of the stringer 1 isstiffened at the point where it is engaged by the side plates 8, asdescribed below. The lower end 12, below the point where lateral strainis applied, is also stiffened and acts as a guide for threading thestringer 1 into the slider and the socket of the member 6.

When the slider reaches the lowermost limit. of its travel and theopposed interlocking members 3 are disengaged, as shown in Fig. 1, thestringer 1 may readily be drawn up through the split edge of the sliderand the side plates 8 of the connecting member 6 and thus be completelydisengaged from the'rest of the fastener. The side plates 8 ofthe member6, however, act as a stop for the slider as seen in Fig. 5 so that theslider will always remain on the stringer 2. When the slider is in itslowermost position resting against the side plates 8 of the member 6 theportion 9 of member 6 extends into the slider and is so shaped as toprovide edge guiding surfaces which prevent the member from twisting outof the vertical plane of the slider. Thus the socket formed by the sideplates 8 will always be in alignment with the slider and in a positionto receive the corded edge of stringer 1 when it is inserted thereinthrough the slider.

\Vhen it is again desired to close the fastenor, the lower free end ofthe stringer 1 is slipped through the slider and the sheath of themember 6 until the member 5 contacts with the edges of the side plates 8of member 6, as shown in Fig. 1. If the slider, starting at the bottom,is now moved upwardly along the stringers, the first opposinginterlocking members 3 will be drawn together in the proper mannerthereby insuring the subsequent engagement of the other interlockingmembers in proper sequence.

The thickened port-ion 11 of the member 5- acts as a stop to prevent thefastener from being closed except when the stringers are in the propervertical position shown in Fig. 1 with the members 5 and 6 contacting.The action of the member 5 in preventing the fastener from closing inone situation is illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be seen that thethickened portion 11 of the member 5 interferes with the interlockingmembers 3 of the stringer 2, preventing the slider 4 from being drawn upwhen the several elements of the fastener are not in the proper startingposition.

The free end of the stringer l which extends below the member 5 ispreferably treated, either across the width of the stringer or only atthe thickened edge, with a substance which renders this part of thestringer stiff, yet sufficiently flexible, in order to facilitate itsentering into the sheath of the member 6. The stiffening materialemployed for this purpose may be rubber, shellac, collodion or any othersuitable sizing which stiffens in drying, and afterwards retains acertain amount of flexibility. If desired, celluloid may be pressed uponthe stringer in a mould and heat applied "to amalgamate it with thefabric in the desired shape. The stiffening at the edge of the stringer1 immediately below the member 5 prevents it from buckling under lateralstrain at this point where it is engaged by the inturned edges of theside plates 8.

It will be obvious that the invention is not to be restricted to theprecise construction herein shown and described. Many of the details,such as the structure of the stringers,

interlocking members and slider will necessarily vary according to theparticular uses for which the fastener is designed. The construction ofthe cooperating end connecting members may also vary widely within thescope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposedseries of interlocking members, a slider movable along said stringers toengage and disengage said members, and a separable bottom connectionincluding a member on one stringer having a socket for receiving theedge of the second stringer and a member on said second stringer adaptedto engage the end of said socket nearest the interlocking members tolimit the movement of the second stringer in one direction.

2. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposedseries of interlocking members, a slider movable along said stringers toengage and disengage said members, a member on one stringer including asocket for receiving the edge of the second stringer, and a number onsaid second stringer insertable through said slider into engagement withthe end of said socket nearest the interlocking members to limit 1.:

the movement of the second stringer in one direc ion.

3. separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposedseries of interlocking members, a slider movable along i=1:

said stringers to engage and disengage said members, a connecting memberon one stringer adapted to limit the movement of said slider in onedirection, a member on the other stringer insertable longitudinallythrough said slider and cooperating with said connecting member to alignthe opposed series of interlocking members in the proper sequence,said'cooperating member having side portions engaging the stringer and afront portion thicker than the side portions to interfere with at leastone of the interlocking members of the opposed stringer to preventclosing the fastener except when the parts are in the proper startingposition.

4. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposedseries of interlocking members, a slider movable along said stringers toengage and disengage said members, a connecting member on one stringerincluding a socket for receiving the edge of the-second stringer toprevent lateral movementof the stringer from the socket, a

cooperating member on said second stringer insertable through saidslider into engagement with said socket to limit the movement of thesecond stringer in one direction and to align the opposed series ofinterlocking mem' bers in the proper sequence, and a projecting portionon the second mentioned member adapted to interfere with at least oneofthe interlocking members of the opposed stringer to prevent closingthe fastener except when the parts are in the proper starting position.

5. A separable fastener comprising a pair of flexible stringers, opposedseries of interlocking members secured to the adjacent edges of saidstringers, a slider movable along said stringers to engage and disengagesaid members, a separable end connection comprising a connecting memberon one stringer having a socket with an opening in its outer edge alongthe entire length. said socket being adapted to receive the adjacentedge of the second stringer With the body portion of said stringerprojecting through said opening, cooperating means provided by thewallsof said socket and said edge of the stringers to prevent lateralseparation of said stringers, and stiffening means provided on the lowerend of said second stringer to facilitate insertion of said comiectingmember into the socket.

6. A separable fastener comprising a pair of flexible stringers, opposedseries of interlocking members secured to the adjacent edges of saidstringers, a slider movable along said stringers to engage and disengagesaid members. a separable end connection for said stringers including aconnecting member on one stringer having a socket opening along theentire length of its outer edge through a narrow slot, said socket beingadapted to receive the adjacent outer edge of the second stringer withthe body portion of said stringer projecting through said slot, meansprovided by the walls of said socket and said edge to prevent. lateralseparation of said stringers, and stiffening means provided on the edgeof said second stringer at the. point where it is engaged by said socketto prevent buckling under lateral strain.

7. A separable fastener-comprising a pair of flexible stringers, opposedseries of intcrlocking members secured to the adjacent ed gcs of saidstringers, a slider movable along said stringers to engage and disengagesaid members, a separable end connection including a connecting memberon one stringer having a socket opening along the entire length of. itsouter edge through a narrow slot, said socket being adapted to receivethe adjacent edge of the second stringer with the body portion of saidstringer projecting through said slot, and means on said second stringerproviding shoulders for engagement with the walls of said socket toprevent lateral separation of said stringers, a portion of said secondstringer being treated with liquid stiffening material to facilitatethreading into said socket.

8. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposedseries of interlocking members, a slider movable along said stringers toengage and disengage said members, a. connecting member 011 one stringerincluding a socket for receiving the edge of the second stringer toprevent lateral, movement thereof, a cooperating member on'said secondstringer adapted to engage the end of said socket nearest theinterlocking members to limit the movement of the second stringer in onedirection, and a stiffened portion on said second stringer below saidcooperating member to facilitate threading said stringer through saidsocket.

9. A connecting member for the stringers of a separable fastenercomprising spaced pairs of clamping jaws for securing same to the edgeof a stringer, and a socket between said pairs of jaws opening throughits outer edge along its entire length, said socket being adapted toreceive an edge of an opposite stringer with the body portion of saidstringer projecting through said" opening, the walls of said socketadjacent said opening being formed to prevent lateral separationtherefrori'i ofa stringer engaged therein.

10. A connecting member for the stringers of a separable fastenercomprising spaced pairs of clamping jaws for securing same to the edgeof a stringer, and side plates inter mediate said pairs of clamping jawshaving inturned edges, said side plates with in-. turned edges forming asocket for receiving the edge of an opposite stringer, said inturnededges engaging said stringer edge to prevent lateral separationtherefrom.

11. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having cordededges, opposed series of interlocking members on said corded edges, aslider movable along said stringers to engageand disengage said members,and a separable connecting member having spaced pairs'of jaws forclamping same to the corded edge of a stringer and side platesintermediate said pairs of jaws to stop said slider, said side plateshaving inturned edges forming a socket to permit the corded edge of theopposite stringer to be inserted lengthwise therethrough and to preventlateral separation.

12. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposedseries of interlocking members on their adjacent edges, a slider forengaging and disengaging said members, and a separable end connectionfor said stringers comprising a socket member on one stringer havingattaching portions for securing it on the stringer, and a socket-formingportion comprising a pair of spaced parallel side plates having inturnedfree ends, and the other stringer having an enlarged edge received insaid socket and held therein from lateral separation by said inturnedends.

13. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers having opposedseries of interlocking members on their adjacent edges, a slider forengaging and disengaging said members, and a separable end connectionfor said stringers at one end of said series of members, comprising asocket member on one stringer and an enlarged stifi'ened portion on theother stringer for insertion through the channel of said slider saidstringers having cooperating stop means attached thereto for limitinginsertion of said stiffened portion, into said socket, and anobstruction on said second stringer adapted to engage the endmostinterlocking member on the first stringer and prevent movement of theslider to close the fastener until said stiffened portion has beeninserted to substantially its limiting position.

14. A separable fastener comprising a pair of flexible stringers,opposed series of interlocking members secured to the adjacent edges ofsaid stringers, and a separable end connection for said stringersincluding a connecting member on one stringer having attaching portionsfor securing it to the stringer, a pair of spaced side plates projectingoutwardly in a lateral direction from the attaching portions andseparated at their outer edges, said second stringer having a portiondisposed between said side plates when the stringers are connected andcooperating means on said side plates and said portion of the secondstringer for preventing lateral separation of said second stringer fromsaid member.

15. The combination With two completely separable stringers providedupon their opposed edges with coupling elements adapted to beinterengaged and disengaged by operation of a slider, of an eye securedto the edge of one of said stringers, the edge of the other stringerbeing arranged to pass CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

-. Patent No. 1,813,433. Granted July 7, 1931, to

GIDEON SUNDBAGK.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4,line 32, claim '13, after the word "slider" insert the words and intosaid socket, and in line 35, same claim, strike out the words and comma"into said socket,"; and that I 4 the said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections therein that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of December, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

DISCLAIMER 1,813,433d;(('1id5011e 7S'airgugliackb M1eadville, Pa.SEPARABLE FASTENER Patent less Fastener company so almer ed June 16,1934, by the asslgnee, Ho0lc- 6 gltsglalms, from the scope of the saidLetters Patent, claims numbered 5 and [Oflicial Gazette July 10, 1934.]

